ABOUT KIRAN MANN:
Kiran Mann isn’t your typical CEO. She’s a visionary leader, entrepreneur, and the creator of The Harmonic System — a transformative framework that bridges the gap between business success and human fulfilment. Through her pioneering approach to Harmonic Leadership, Kiran is proving that clarity, compassion, and purpose aren’t just ideals — they’re powerful drivers of sustainable growth and authentic connection within organizations and the people behind them.
At the core of Kiran’s philosophy are three guiding pillars: Knowingness, Love, and Presence. Far from abstract concepts, these are practical tools that empower leaders to cultivate cultures where performance and purpose thrive in harmony. Whether she’s helping teams achieve high performance or guiding individuals to rediscover resilience and self-awareness, Kiran’s message is clear — true success is born from balance.
As CEO of Brar’s, one of Canada’s leading South Asian food companies, Kiran has seamlessly woven strategic vision with a human-centred approach to leadership. Under her guidance, Brar’s has flourished — grounded in empathy, innovation, and operational excellence. Beyond the boardroom, she founded M2M Business Solutions, where initiatives like The Happy Organization (THO) and The J.O.Y. (Just Overcome Yourself) Movement and LeadHer, she helps leaders align culture with strategy and unlock their fullest potential.
For Kiran, love isn’t just a sentiment — it’s a strategy. She defines it as self-awareness, courage, and compassion in action — shaping how we lead, collaborate, and connect. This philosophy infuses everything she does, from mentoring emerging leaders to creating workplaces where people feel seen, valued, and inspired.
Above all, Kiran leads from within. She unapologetically puts family first, seeks out new experiences and flavours, and cherishes the connections that make life meaningful. Her journey reminds us that leadership isn’t defined by titles or achievements — but by the harmony we create along the way.
Q&A WITH KIRAN MANN:
What is your most valuable possession and why?
My most valuable possession isn’t something I can hold in my hands, it’s my faith. Faith in God, faith in my own clarity, and faith in the power that lies within me to create the life I desire. I’ve learned that when I am clear about what I want, and when I take inspired action from that place of trust, life responds. It’s as if the universe conspires quietly in the background, connecting dots I can’t even see yet.
There have been times when I didn’t have the answers, when I questioned whether I was doing enough or being enough. But every single time, faith brought me home. It reminded me that I’m not walking this path alone, that when I move with sincerity and gratitude, God meets me halfway.
And through it all, my inner circle has been my anchor, the people who hold space for me on my hard days and celebrate the quiet wins with me. Together, they remind me that my greatest wealth isn’t material; it’s the love, trust, and faith that make each day feel purposeful and full.
What are your top 3 life lessons and how have they changed your life for the better (in other words, how have you implemented them to better your life)?
The first and most powerful lesson I’ve learned is that I am the creator of my own reality. Nothing happens “to” me , it happens “through” me. Every dream I’ve brought to life began with a decision, a whisper of faith, and a willingness to act even when I was scared. Once I understood that, life stopped being something I reacted to and became something I could shape.
My second lesson is that there’s no such thing as failure. Everything and I mean everything is either a win or a lesson. When something doesn’t work out, it’s simply redirecting me to what will. That truth softened the sting of setbacks and made me curious instead of defeated.
And my third lesson maybe the most profound, is that happiness is the goal, not the reward. We chase milestones thinking joy is on the other side, but real fulfillment lives in the everyday moments the laughter during chaos, the quiet gratitude before sleep, the pride of trying again. When I learned to enjoy the process instead of waiting for the outcome, I discovered a sense of peace that success alone could never give.
Nothing happens ‘to’ me, it happens ‘through’ me.
What is the most valuable advice you’ve received and how did it set you up to win?
The most valuable advice I ever received was simple: “Stop complaining.” At first, it felt blunt almost harsh but it turned out to be life-changing. I realized that every time I complained, I was giving my power away. I was focusing on what wasn’t working instead of what I could create.
One day, in a particularly difficult moment in my business, I caught myself spiraling into frustration. Then that advice echoed in my mind. I paused, took a deep breath, and asked myself, “What is working right now?” That shift in perspective changed everything. Instead of seeing obstacles, I saw opportunities. Instead of feeling helpless, I felt in charge again.
Since then, I’ve practiced turning complaints into gratitude. It doesn’t mean ignoring challenges, it means owning my role in how I respond to them. When I stopped blaming and started building, I noticed something powerful: life started responding with more ease. Because the truth is, when you change the energy you bring to your world, the world mirrors that energy right back.
What is the worst advice you’ve received and how did it impact you?
The worst advice I’ve ever received wasn’t even meant as “advice”, it came in the form of quiet disapproval. Every time I took a bold step or tried something unconventional, there were voices questioning me: “Why would you do that?” or “That’s not how things are done.” At first, I internalized those comments. I started second guessing my own choices, wondering if my courage was actually recklessness.
It took time to realize that most people see the world through the lens of their own limitations. They project their fears, their conditioning, their comfort zones onto you. I learned that if I let those voices guide me, I’d end up living a life that wasn’t mine.
When I started honouring my intuition again, even when it meant standing alone, I began to see success in ways that felt deeply aligned. Each risk I took built confidence like bricks, layer by layer. So, in hindsight, those moments of judgment became my best teachers. They reminded me that the world may question you, but that doesn’t mean you should question yourself.
What is the one mistake you regret in life, and why? How would changing it have helped?
If I could name one mistake, it would be the times I doubted myself, those moments when fear whispered louder than faith. I remember when I left my comfortable six-figure job in the automotive industry to start my own firm. People around me asked why I’d leave stability for uncertainty. And slowly, their doubts became my own.
I told myself I wouldn’t reach out to my old contacts because I wanted to “prove myself” from scratch but deep down, it was fear disguised as pride. I started questioning my worth, wondering if I was capable enough, good enough, ready enough. That self-doubt dimmed my spark for a while and even affected how I showed up in my work.
But the beautiful part is, even my mistakes became mirrors. They reflected the work I needed to do within myself, to rebuild trust in my own voice. I realized that doubt and faith can’t live in the same space. The moment I chose to believe again, in my talent, in my journey, in the divine timing of it all, everything began to flow.
So, do I regret it? Maybe in moments. But would I change it? No. Because without it, I wouldn’t have learned the sacred truth that the only opinion that truly matters is the one you hold about yourself. And truthfully I catch myself doubting sometimes when I am in new situations, the difference is now I know how to find my way out faster.
When you face a challenge, what’s your method to move past it?
For me, the first step is always acknowledgment. You can’t move through what you won’t face. There was a time when I used to avoid difficult emotions, I’d distract myself with work, with busyness. But avoidance only gives fear more room to grow. Now, when something challenges me, I pause. I breathe. I say to myself, “Yes, this is hard. But I’ve faced harder.”
After acknowledgment comes acceptance. I look honestly at what’s in my control and what isn’t. That clarity keeps me from wasting energy trying to fix things that aren’t mine to fix. Once I see what’s within my power, I take the next logical step. Not the final one, just the next one.
Because challenges are like mazes, you don’t find the way out by overthinking the whole map. You take one turn, then another, and slowly the path reveals itself. Each small step leads you closer to the breakthrough. And through it all, I remind myself that nothing I face is random. Every challenge is there to teach me something about my own strength and every time I overcome one, I meet a more powerful version of myself on the other side.
Every dream I’ve brought to life began with a decision, a whisper of faith, and a willingness to act even when I was scared, and once I understood that, life stopped being something I reacted to and became something I could shape.
How do you create a work-life balance?
For a long time, I chased the idea of “work-life balance,” thinking there was some magic formula where everything would sit perfectly on a scale. But life isn’t meant to be that symmetrical. What I’ve learned instead is to live in harmony, to flow with the rhythm of what each day requires.
There are days when work takes center stage, when my focus and energy pour completely into what I’m building. Then there are days when family, self-care, or stillness call louder and I honor that too. Balance, to me, is not about giving equal time to everything; it’s about giving full presence to whatever needs you most in that moment.
I’ve also learned to let go of guilt, the guilt of not doing “enough,” of postponing tasks, of needing rest. Now, I remind myself: a day’s end doesn’t define my worth. Completing one meaningful priority gives me peace, and that peace fuels everything else. The to-do list can wait. Life can’t.
What “women” hangups have you been a victim to, that you feel sets women up to fail in their professional career?
As a South Asian woman and an immigrant, I’ve lived through both external and internal challenges. Externally, people questioned my capability because of my gender, my age, my accent, or my background. There were times I walked into rooms where I was the only woman, the only brown face, and felt my credibility silently tested before I even spoke.
But I believe the internal hangups are the ones that truly hold us back. We, as women, are often our own toughest critics. We replay our missteps, doubt our talents, and shrink our accomplishments by saying, “It was nothing.” We question whether we’re good enough long before anyone else does.
I had to reprogram that narrative within myself, to stop waiting for validation and start offering it to myself. I realized that when I quieted my inner critic and amplified my inner cheerleader, everything around me shifted. Confidence became less about how others saw me and more about how I chose to see myself. When we heal that inner voice, the world outside starts to meet us differently, with respect that mirrors our own.
Are you affected by the Confidence Gap, where studies show that women require confidence as well as competence to succeed in the workplace environment, whereas their male counterparts don’t?
Absolutely. Like most women, I’ve danced with self-doubt. We are emotional beings, we feel deeply, which is both our superpower and sometimes our hurdle. I’ve had moments where people’s opinions echoed louder than my own intuition, where I started believing their “what ifs” over my “I can.”
But over time, I learned to turn impossible into I’m possible. Every time I faced a challenge, I told myself, “I’ll figure it out.” That sentence became my anchor. It reminded me that I didn’t need to know everything, I just needed to trust myself enough to take one step. And each step brought clarity.
Another powerful truth I live by came from my mentor: “Until you can trust yourself, trust the people who trust you.” In my low moments, that advice saved me. I leaned on the faith of my inner circle, on the people who saw my strength when I couldn’t. Their belief became a bridge back to my own.
With time, I realized confidence isn’t a permanent state, it’s a practice. Some days you lead with it; other days you borrow it. But every time you rise after doubt, it grows stronger. Today, I don’t just see myself as fearless, I see myself as faithful. And that faith has carried me through every gap I’ve ever crossed. And the times when new doubts and fears appear, it is the faith that gets me through till I overcome.
Life is a journey full of doubts, fears, insecurities and bad habits that we are programmed with, faith helps be get through, develop confidence each time I am stuck and looking for a breakthrough.
What does equality mean to you and is it important?
I grew up in a home where equality wasn’t preached, it was practiced. My parents never made me feel different because I was a girl. I was raised to believe that every human being deserves respect, not because of their gender, background, or title, but because they are human. That shaped everything I believe today.
As I stepped into the world, I saw how many boxes society tries to fit us into gender, culture, religion, status. But none of that ever made sense to me. To me, equality isn’t about comparing women to men, or asking to be treated “the same.” We’re not the same and that’s the beauty of it. Men and women, like every soul on this planet, were created with their own strengths and purposes. True equality is about honoring those differences without ranking them.
So yes, equality is deeply important to me but not as competition, rather as collaboration. The way I see it, humanity is one ecosystem. Each of us contributes something vital. I don’t want to be treated as “equal to a man.” I want to be treated as a capable, complete human being. When we begin to see one another through that lens, human to human, we create not just equality, but true connection.
Because challenges are like mazes, you don’t find the way out by overthinking the whole map; you take one turn, then another, and slowly the path reveals itself.
In your experience, what types of male allyship do you feel women need to foster at home and at work, to encourage an equitable ecosystem?
I believe allyship whether at home or at work, begins with shared respect and understanding. We are all part of units: families, teams, friendships. Each person in those units has their own strengths and limitations. When we acknowledge that, we start working together instead of against one another.
At home, I’ve always believed in distribution, not division. Sharing responsibilities according to capability, not gender, makes everyone feel valued. Even my youngest child once said, “But I’m too small to help.” I told her, “Do what you can with what you have.” That’s allyship, everyone contributing from their strengths, however small.
In the workplace, allyship looks like men using their influence to amplify women’s voices, not speaking for us, but making sure we’re heard. It’s about giving credit where it’s due, mentoring without bias, and creating spaces where women can rise without being questioned for their ambition.
And for women like me who have reached leadership positions, allyship also means paying it forward, being the mentor and the sponsor we once needed. I see it as a chain of empowerment: men and women both lifting, supporting, and believing in one another’s growth. That’s how we build a truly equitable ecosystem, not by demanding space, but by sharing it.
What would you tell your 18-year-old self, looking back over your life’s experiences?
Oh, I would tell her to trust herself sooner as “I am enough”. I’d tell her that clarity is a form of power, and she’s had it all along, she just needed to believe it was enough. I’d tell her that the world will try to shape her into someone “acceptable,” but her magic lies in being unapologetically herself.
I would tell her that her faith will carry her further than fear ever could, that God’s timing is never late, even when it feels delayed. I’d remind her that confusion and doubt are not signs of weakness; they are invitations to grow. And that the moments she feels most lost are often the ones where life is quietly redirecting her toward her purpose.
Mostly, I’d tell her this: Don’t rush. Don’t shrink. Don’t settle. Everything you dream of will come, but not because you chase it because you become it. And when the world gets loud, go inward. The answers you seek are already in your heart. All you have to do is trust them.
What advice would you give to women to help them step into their power?
If I could sit across from every woman who’s ever doubted herself, I’d tell her: You already have what you’re searching for. Power isn’t something you earn; it’s something you remember. Somewhere along the way, the world convinced us to be smaller, to play safe, to please, to prove. But your strength was never lost, just buried under expectations.
For me, stepping into my power began with small acts of courage, saying “no” when I meant no, choosing faith when fear was louder, forgiving myself for not being perfect. I learned that true power is not about control or dominance; it’s about alignment. When you’re aligned with who you are, your values, your purpose, your truth and you become unshakeable.
And I’ve also learned that power isn’t something you earn, it’s created by controlling your mind and continually overcoming your own self. We’re often trapped in a vicious cycle where our mind replays the same doubts and fears millions of times. The only way to break free is to take that first step toward the first door, and once you do, the following doors begin to open, one after another, guided by faith, trust, and belief in yourself.
So never stop. Keep going, one step, one action at a time. Because every time you choose movement over fear, belief over doubt, you reclaim another piece of your power. And one day, you’ll look back and realize you were never powerless, you were simply learning to rise.
Can you share one resource (book, course, mastermind/masterclass, etc.) that you feel all women need to have?
If I had to name one book that truly shifted my awareness, it would be The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. It reminded me that peace doesn’t live somewhere in the future — it’s right here, in this moment. And yet, I’ll be honest: this is something I’m still learning. I often catch myself thinking about what’s next, or trying to do ten things at once, instead of simply being where I am.
What this book taught me is that awareness itself is progress. Every time I notice that my mind has wandered, I have a chance to come back, to my breath, to gratitude, to now. The power isn’t in getting it perfect; it’s in realizing how often we drift and gently returning. That’s where the peace begins.
I try to bring that lesson into my work and home life. When I’m with my children, I remind myself to really see them, not just their faces, but their energy. When I’m leading, I try to listen fully, without thinking about my next response. Some days I succeed, other days I forget but I’ve learned to forgive myself for being human. The Power of Now didn’t make me flawless; it made me aware. And that awareness is where real transformation starts.
Confidence became less about how others saw me and more about how I chose to see myself, and when we heal that inner voice, the world outside starts to meet us differently—with respect that mirrors our own.
What mantra do you live by and how has it impacted your life?
My mantra has evolved over time, and today it rests in four simple but powerful words: Knowingness, Faith, Clarity, Action, and Let it be.
For me, knowingness is that quiet inner voice that whispers truth long before logic catches up. It’s the deep intuition that tells you when something feels right or when it doesn’t. Faith is what carries me when I can’t yet see the outcome. It’s the surrender that says, “I may not know how this unfolds, but I trust that it will.” Clarity gives me direction; it reminds me to pause, to realign, and to act with purpose rather than haste.
And then comes action, the bridge between vision and reality. I’ve learned that movement, even small movement, creates momentum. The final piece, let it be, is my reminder to release control once I’ve done my part. To trust divine timing. To allow life to unfold without constant interference from my fears or doubts.
These words guide me every single day. They keep me grounded, balanced, and at peace, reminding me that life is not about forcing outcomes, but about walking with awareness, trust, and grace.
Which therapies/modalities have helped shape your healing and empowerment journey?
Over the years, I’ve realized that healing doesn’t always come from grand practices or formal therapies, sometimes, it begins with simply coming home to yourself. My home, and time spent alone, have become my greatest source of healing. I often joke that when my battery is low, I need my home, nature, time away from humans and time with myself to charge me.
That solitude is my reset button. When life feels heavy or noisy, I step back and allow myself to just be. Sometimes that means meditation, journaling, or quiet reflection and other times, it means doing absolutely nothing. And my “nothing” often looks like binge-watching Netflix shows to disconnect my conscious mind. I don’t usually care much for TV, but in those moments, it helps me shut down the overthinking and just rest.
It’s funny how something so simple can feel so necessary. Those hours of solitude whether spent in silence or with a comforting show playing recharge me. They remind me that rest isn’t indulgence; it’s maintenance. Every woman needs that kind of space, where she can disconnect from the world and reconnect with herself. That’s where I refuel, reset, and return to life clearer, lighter, and ready again.
LEARN MORE ABOUT 'LEADHER,' A 7-DAY CHALLENGE TO RECLAIM YOUR LIGHT:
Course sessions will help you:
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Own your voice and lead from within
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Build deep self-awareness rooted in Knowingness
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Break old patterns and redefine success on your terms
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Embrace your unique power — unapologetically
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Reconnect with your purpose and lead with clarity, not confusion
